As an Esports coach, I have seen so many positives come out of our programs over the last 5 years in both districts that I have been a coach. There is no doubt in my mind that Esports can have a lasting positive impact on our students and can create opportunities for our students that may not have existed for them before.

One major area in which Esports can have a meaningful impact is the creation of a community where our students can connect with other students and adults at the school. I have seen that a good number of the students who go out for Esports may not have connections at school beyond the Esports program. They may not be involved in other school activities and Esports gives them a chance to get involved at school. Without Esports, they might just go to class and then go home at the end of the day, feeling disconnected from the larger high school community. Being involved gives them more reason to want to be at school and more reasons to stay eligible by passing classes and following behavior expectations.

Now, this is not the case for every esports student as many of my esports students are involved in other activities, but there is a population of students where Esports will be the only school activity they may ever want to be involved in throughout their high school career. The impact of Esports can last well beyond high school as being part of the community can get them connected to college programs and scholarships, it may even be the reason that student goes to any post-high school schooling. I have had multiple students in the past who told me the only reason they went to class was because they knew I was checking their attendance and grades and that if they were not following the rules, then they would not be eligible to compete. They could still go home to play the games by themselves, but if they wanted to be part of the team, they had to follow those expectations. Those expectations were always there, but it was the involvement in the Esports program that made it so they wanted to meet them for the first time in a long time.

I have seen students become good friends with their teammates and that may not have happened otherwise. They formed connections that go beyond the Esports program and beyond the school day. They are better off for being involved, and that is something I think all educators would say about any activity. Having an Esports program is just another way we can reach a section of our student body that needs that opportunity to be connected, to engage in the school community in a way that benefits them while at school and beyond.